zìxíngchē: 自行车 - Bicycle, Bike

• Keywords: bicycle in Chinese, how to say bike in Chinese, zixingche, 自行车, Chinese bike culture, rent a bike in China, shared bikes China, bicycle kingdom China, 骑自行车, ride a bike Chinese
• Summary: Learn how to say “bicycle” in Chinese with “自行车 (zìxíngchē)”. This comprehensive guide explores the meaning, character breakdown, and practical usage of this essential vocabulary word. Discover the deep cultural significance of the bicycle in China, from its role in the “Bicycle Kingdom” era to the modern-day shared bike revolution. This page includes over 10 example sentences and analysis to help you master how to talk about riding a bike in everyday conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zìxíngchē
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A human-powered, two-wheeled vehicle; a bicycle.
• In a Nutshell: 自行车 (zìxíngchē) is the most common and standard word for “bicycle” or “bike” in Mandarin Chinese. The word itself is beautifully logical, meaning “self-moving vehicle.” Beyond a simple noun, it represents a massive part of China's modern history, evolving from a symbol of economic status to a ubiquitous tool of daily life and, now, a key component of the tech-driven urban landscape.

• 自 (zì): Means “self,” “oneself,” or “from.” Think of it as indicating something is done by oneself.
• 行 (xíng): Means “to go,” “to travel,” or “to move.”
• 车 (chē): A pictograph of a chariot viewed from above, this character means “vehicle” or “car.”

These three characters combine perfectly to form 自行车 (zìxíngchē), a “self-traveling vehicle”—a wonderfully descriptive name for a bicycle, which moves under its own power (via the rider).

The bicycle is not just a mode of transport in China; it's a cultural icon that tells the story of the country's transformation. In the latter half of the 20th century, China was famously known as the “自行车王国” (zìxíngchē wángguó) - the Bicycle Kingdom. During this time, owning a bicycle from a famous brand like “永久 (Yǒngjiǔ)” or “凤凰 (Fènghuáng)” was a major life goal. It was one of the “三大件” (sān dà jiàn), or “three big items,” (along with a watch and a sewing machine) that every family aspired to own, signifying progress and a step into modernity. Streets were filled with a sea of cyclists, a powerful collective image of a nation on the move. This contrasts sharply with the Western perception of the bicycle, which has often been more associated with leisure, sport, or individual environmentalism. In China, its primary identity was rooted in mass utility and economic necessity. Today, this legacy has been transformed by technology. While cars now dominate the roads, the bicycle has had a massive resurgence through 共享单车 (gòngxiǎng dānchē) - shared bikes. App-based services from companies like Meituan (美团), Hello Inc. (哈啰), and Didi (滴滴) have placed millions of colorful, GPS-tracked bikes on every city corner. The “Bicycle Kingdom” has evolved from a symbol of collective socialist progress to one of modern, individual, on-demand convenience.

自行车 is a neutral, everyday word used in all contexts, formal and informal.

• Daily Conversation: It's the default word you'll use when talking about owning, riding, or buying a bike.
• Renting Shared Bikes: While the official term is “共享单车” (shared bike), you'll often hear people say they are going to ride a “自行车” when referring to one. For example, “我扫一辆自行车” (Wǒ sǎo yí liàng zìxíngchē) - “I'll scan a bike.”
• Types of Bikes: It's a general term. For specifics, you can say `山地车 (shāndìchē)` for a mountain bike or `公路车 (gōnglùchē)` for a road bike.

The most crucial grammar point is the verb used for riding a bike: 骑 (qí). You always 骑自行车 (qí zìxíngchē).

• Example 1:
  • 我爸爸有一辆很旧的自行车。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bàba yǒu yí liàng hěn jiù de zìxíngchē.
  • English: My dad has a very old bicycle.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence showing ownership. Note the measure word for vehicles, `辆 (liàng)`.
• Example 2:
  • 他每天骑自行车去上班。
  • Pinyin: Tā měitiān qí zìxíngchē qù shàngbān.
  • English: He rides a bike to work every day.
  • Analysis: This showcases the essential verb `骑 (qí)`, which means “to ride” for things you straddle, like bikes and horses.
• Example 3:
  • 这辆自行车是谁的？
  • Pinyin: Zhè liàng zìxíngchē shì shéi de?
  • English: Whose bicycle is this?
  • Analysis: A common question. `这 (zhè)` means “this,” and `谁的 (shéi de)` means “whose.”
• Example 4:
  • 我们去租一辆自行车，在公园里逛逛吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen qù zū yí liàng zìxíngchē, zài gōngyuán lǐ guàngguang ba.
  • English: Let's go rent a bicycle and ride around the park.
  • Analysis: `租 (zū)` means “to rent.” `逛逛 (guàngguang)` is a casual verb for “to stroll” or “wander around,” often used for leisure activities.
• Example 5:
  • 对不起，我的自行车坏了，不能借给你。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ de zìxíngchē huài le, bù néng jiè gěi nǐ.
  • English: Sorry, my bicycle is broken, so I can't lend it to you.
  • Analysis: `坏了 (huài le)` is a common way to say something is broken. `借 (jiè)` means “to lend” or “to borrow.”
• Example 6:
  • 在中国的大城市，共享自行车非常方便。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó de dà chéngshì, gòngxiǎng zìxíngchē fēicháng fāngbiàn.
  • English: In China's big cities, shared bicycles are extremely convenient.
  • Analysis: Although the more precise term is `共享单车 (gòngxiǎng dānchē)`, using `共享自行车` is also perfectly understood.
• Example 7:
  • 你会骑自行车吗？我五岁的时候就学会了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ huì qí zìxíngchē ma? Wǒ wǔ suì de shíhou jiù xuéhuì le.
  • English: Do you know how to ride a bike? I learned when I was five years old.
  • Analysis: `会 (huì)` is used here to mean “to know how to” do something (a learned skill).
• Example 8:
  • 骑自行车不仅环保，而且对身体好。
  • Pinyin: Qí zìxíngchē bùjǐn huánbǎo, érqiě duì shēntǐ hǎo.
  • English: Riding a bike is not only environmentally friendly, but also good for your health.
  • Analysis: A great sentence structure: `不仅… 而且… (bùjǐn… érqiě…)` means “not only… but also…”
• Example 9:
  • 请把你的自行车停在指定区域。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ nǐ de zìxíngchē tíng zài zhǐdìng qūyù.
  • English: Please park your bicycle in the designated area.
  • Analysis: `把 (bǎ)` is used to move the object before the verb. `停 (tíng)` means “to park.” This is a formal sentence you might see on a sign.
• Example 10:
  • 他花了三千块买了一辆新的山地自行车。
  • Pinyin: Tā huā le sānqiān kuài mǎi le yí liàng xīn de shāndì zìxíngchē.
  • English: He spent 3000 yuan to buy a new mountain bike.
  • Analysis: `花 (huā)` means “to spend” (money or time). `山地 (shāndì)` means “mountain,” creating the compound word for “mountain bike.”

• The Verb is Key: 骑 (qí) vs. 开 (kāi) vs. 坐 (zuò)
  • The most common mistake for beginners is using the wrong verb.
  • Correct: `骑自行车 (qí zìxíngchē)` - To ride a bicycle. `骑 (qí)` is used for things you straddle (bikes, motorcycles, horses).
  • Incorrect: `开自行车 (kāi zìxíngchē)` - `开 (kāi)` means “to drive” and is used for cars, buses, trains, and planes.
  • Incorrect: `坐自行车 (zuò zìxíngchē)` - `坐 (zuò)` means “to sit” as a passenger inside a vehicle. You can `坐` a car or `坐` a bus, but you don't `坐` a bike you are pedaling. (You could technically `坐` on the back rack if someone is giving you a ride, but the primary action is `骑`).
• 自行车 (zìxíngchē) vs. 单车 (dānchē)
  • `单车 (dānchē)` literally means “single vehicle” and is a very common, slightly more colloquial synonym for bicycle.
  • While `自行车` is universally understood, `单车` is especially common in Southern China and in the term for bike-sharing: `共享单车 (gòngxiǎng dānchē)`. You can use them almost interchangeably in casual conversation.

• 骑 (qí) - The essential verb, “to ride.”
• 共享单车 (gòngxiǎng dānchē) - Shared bicycle. A fundamental concept in modern Chinese urban life.
• 单车 (dānchē) - A common, slightly more informal synonym for bicycle.
• 电动车 (diàndòngchē) - Electric scooter/e-bike. In many cities, these are even more common than traditional bicycles.
• 摩托车 (mótuōchē) - Motorcycle.
• 三轮车 (sānlúnchē) - Tricycle. Often used for hauling goods or as a pedicab.
• 车 (chē) - The base character for any wheeled vehicle.
• 辆 (liàng) - The primary measure word for wheeled vehicles.
• 自行车道 (zìxíngchē dào) - Bicycle lane. A very useful word for navigating a city.
• 自行车王国 (zìxíngchē wángguó) - “The Bicycle Kingdom,” the historical nickname for China.